Weatherproof outlet with reciprocably movable closure pivot pin



June 15', 1965 G, BELLE 3,189,212

WEATHERPROOF OUTLET WITH RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE CLOSURE PIVOT PIN FiledJuly 11,1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 F|G,2 F G.

' as as as FIGS 53 28 INVENTOR: B FRANK G. BELLEK June 15, 1965 F. G.BELLEK WEATHERPROOF OUTLET WITH RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE CLOSURE PIVOT PIN 2Sheets-Sheetfi Filed July 11, 1961 FIG. 8

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FIG. IO

FIG. II

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INVENTOR. FRANK G. BELLEK ATT'Y United States Patent 3,189,212WEATHERPRQGF OUTLET WITH REQHPROQABLY MOVABLE CLQSEURE PIVOT PIN FrankG. Bellek, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Bell Electric Company, Chicago,iii, a corporation of Illinois Filed July 11, 1961, Ser. No. 123,134-Claims. Il. 22.0-24.3)

This invention relates in general to weatherproof electrical outlets andmore particularly to a weatherproof electrical outlet having asnap-action hinge construction for the outlet closure member.

Various electrical outlets have been constructed utilizing a hingedcover or closure member requiring a plurality of mating parts whichcorrode and require continual part replacement and maintenance. Inaddition, many of the prior devices of this nature require an excessiveamount of force to position the closure member into the open positionand must be either manually held in the open position or else require anadditional force and intricate locking mechanism to maintain the closuremember in the open position.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide animproved weatherproof electrical outlet which provides a closure memberhingedly secured to a base plate which eliminates the necessity of aplurality of mating parts and may be readily positioned and secured intothe open position with a minimum of effort.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedweatherproof electrical outlet having a closure member which is biasedtowards the closed position with a positive sealing action whichprotects the outlet against all weather conditions and which can beeasily opened and be retained in the open position. H

Another object of the invention is to provide a'bracket afiixed to thebase plate of the outlet to which a closure member is pivotally securedso as to effect stresses in a spring for securing the closure memberinto the closed or open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved weatherproofelectrical outlet wherein a spring is effective to bias a closure memberinto a closed position but which is mounted in such a manner as toresiliently hold the closure member into engagement with a portion ofthe base plate when the closure member is in the open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved weatherproofelectrical outlet having a closure member, biased towards the closedposition, pivotally secured to a flange member in such a manner as topermit minute movement in a vertical plane of the closure memberrelative to the flange to permit the closure member to move pastabutments on the base plate to attain the open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved weatherproofelectrical outlet having a biased closure member pivotally secured to aflange member secured to the base plate with one end of the closure member engaging a flexure member of the flange when the closure member ismoved towards the open position and is retained by the fiexure memberwhen the closure member is in the open position.

A further object of this invention is to provide, a weatherproof outletwhich is simple in design, economical to manufacture, yet rugged inconstruction to withstand violent impact and all weather conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of the weatherproof electrical outletof a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken along the line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 withthe closure member in the open position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view illustrating the pivotal hingeconnection of the closure to the flange member;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view in side elevationof the pivotal hinge connection of this invention illustrating therelationship of the mating parts with the closure member in the closedposition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view in side elevation of thepivotal hinge connection illustrating the relationship of the matingparts with the closure member in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a weatherproof electrical outletof another embodiment of this invention;

PEG. 9 is an end elevation view illustrating the hinge portion of theoutlet;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation partially sectioned taken along the linelit-1i? of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view in sideelevation, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the relationship of themating parts of the hinge with the closure member in the closedposition;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view in sideelevation, similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the relationship of themating parts of the hinge with the closure member in the open position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, the preferred embodiment of theweatherproof outlet 10 of this invention comprises a base plate 12having an annular flange 14 which defines a circular opening 16 adaptedto be disposed in register with a conventional electrical wall socket(not shown). A cover 18, having a depending annular flange 20, isadapted to seat in sealing relationship to the flange 14 by means of agasket 22 disposed within the annular flange 20. The cover 18 has anarcuately shaped handle 24 formed integrally at one end thereof and atthe other end a hinge extension 26 is provided which is mounted on apivot bar 28 reciprocally held in spacedapart arms 3% and 32 of abracket 34 which defines openings MP and 42 of a size appreciably largerthan the bar 28 to permit minute movement of the bar in a directionnormal to the plane of the flange 14. The hinge extension 26 providesparallel depending flanges 36 and 38 for receiving the pivot bar 28. Across plate 44 of the bracket 34 is fastened to the base plate 12 byrivets 46 and 48.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the cross plate4 of bracket 34 has a center portion 50 elevated to provide a shortextension 52 to which a lower central loop 54 of a spring member 56 maybe readily hooked thereunder. The spring member 56 has each leg thereofextending up from the loop 54 coiled around the pivot bar 2d with theends thereof extending upwardly and engaging the under surface of ends58 and 6%) of the hinge extension 26. It is readily apparent that byhaving the center of the spring anchored to the bracket 34 with ends ofthe spring acting against the undersurface of the ends 53 and 60 afterbeing coiled about the pivot bar 28, the closure is continually biasedtowards the closed position as best seen in PEG. 6. The hinge extension26 of the closure has a centrally recessed portion 62 which forms thetwo spaced ends 58 and 69. The recessed portion 62 is provided to permitready access to a hold down screw (not shown) which passes through anopening 64 in the base plate 12 to secure the complete outlet to anysurface as desired. A similar opening 66 is formed in the base plate 12beneath the handle 24, when the closure is in the closed position, asbest seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, spaced abutments 68 and 70 are formedin the outer surface of the base plate 12 adjacent the rearward edge ofthe bracket 34. The abutments provide sloping side walls with a roundedupper portion and are dimensionally formed and positioned forinterference contact of the inner sloping side walls with the ends 58and 60 when the closure is moved towards the open position. As force isapplied to the handle 24 to position the closure in the open position,the ends 58 and 6th contact the inner sloping surfaces of the abutments68 and 70. As the ends bear against the abutments, the

entire closure will minutely move in a vertical plane carrying with itthe pivot bar 28. The amount of movement in the vertical plane, beinglimited by the size of the openings 40 and 42 in flange members 30 and32 in which the pivot bar 28 is journalled, is sufficient to permit theends 58 and 60 to complete their larcuate swing past the inner slopingsurfaces of the abutments to attain the open position as illustrated inFIG. 7. The spring member 56, being anchored to both the bracket 34 andbinge extension 26 and coiled around the pivot bar 23, resiliently urgesbar 28 and the closure downwardly and outwardly towards the butments 68and 70 when the closure reaches the open position which forces the ends58 and 60 against the lower portion of the inner surfaces of theabutments locking the closure in the open position. The force requiredto move the closure to the open position is very slight since themechanical advantage, approximately 9 to 1 ratio, due to the distancefrom the handle to the pivot bar and from the pivot bar to the ends 58and 69, with only the force of spring member 56 and a force to pass withthe sloping side Walls of the abutments the spring 56 takes over andsnaps the closure shut in sealing relationship with the annular ring114. Thus it is readily understood that the torsional stress of spring56 is utilized to urge the closure member towards the closed positionand the tensile stress of spring 56 is utilized to force the closuremember into positive contact with the abutments to maintain the openposition.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, an alternate embodiment ofthe weatherproof outlet it? of this invention is illustrated. In view ofthe similarity of many of the portions of this embodiment with thepreferred embodiment just described, like numerals are used to designatethe similar parts.

The weatherproof outlet 10 of this embodiment comprises a base plate 12having an annular flange 14 which defines a circular opening 16 adaptedto be disposed in register with a conventional electrical wall socket(not shown). A cover 18, having a depending annular flange 20, isadapted to seat in sealing relationship to the flange 14 by means of agasket 22 disposed within the annular flange 20. The cover 18 has anarcuately shaped handle 24 formed integrally at one end thereof and atthe other end a hinged extension 26 is provided which is pivotallymounted on a pivot bar 28 reciprocally held in spacedapart arms 30 and32 of a bracket 34, a flange extension 26 having parallel dependingflanges 36 and 38 defining openings 40 and 42 for receiving the pivotbar 28. The bracket 34 has a lower cross plate 44 secured to the baseplate 12 by rivets 46 and 48. The center portion, indicated as 50, ofthe lower cross plate 44 is elevated to provide a recess to which oneend of a spring member 56 may be readily secured as will be explained. Arear wall 76), formed as an integral portion of the bottom plate member44, extends upwardly and outwardly from the base plate 44 with the upperedge of the rear wall angularly contoured as at 72. The rear wall '70extends across the '4 1 entire width of the bracket 34 but has the endedges thereof severed from the flange members 30 and 32.

The spring member 56 has one end thereof angularly formed to be receivedbeneath the elevated portion 59 of the lower plate 44 and extendsupwardly therefrom and coiled about the pivot bar 28 with the other endextending upwardly and received in a recessed slot formed in the undersurface of the hinge extension 26, as best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. Itis readily apparent by having one end of the spring secured to thebracket 34, then coiled about the pivot bar 28 with the other endbearing on the under surface of the hinge extension 26, that the forceof the spring is directed to retain the closure member in the closedposition at all times. The hinge extension 26 of the closure has acentrally recessed portion 62 which forms two spaced ends 53 and 60. Therecessed portion 62 is provided to permit ready access to hold-downscrews (not shown) which pass through an opening 64 in the base plate12; to securely anchor the outlet to a surface as desired. A similaropening d6 is formed in front of the annular ring 14 beneath the handle24 as described in the preferred embodiment.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 11 and 12, the closure memberis retained in the closed position by the spring 56 until sufficientforce is applied to the handle 24 to move it towards the open position.As the closure member is raised, the ends 58 and 60 of hinge extension26 contact the inner surface of the rear wall 70 of bracket 34 with therounded upper portion 72 aiding in guiding the ends 58 and 60 intoproper contact. As'the force is continued on the handle 24, the ends 58and 60 will bear against the inner surface of rear wall 76. Due to theseverance of the ends of therear wall 70 with the flange members 30 and32 of bracket 34,'the rear wall 70 will be forced outwardly anddownwardly to permit the closure member to attain the full open positionas illustrated in FIG 12. The rear wall 70, acting like acantileverbeam, will spring back to its normal position after the ends 58 and 60have reached the lowermost edge thereof and will abut against the upperedge surface of ends 58 and 60 to retain the closure member in the openposition. As previously described for the preferred embodiment, theamount of force required to be exerted on the handle 24 to raise theclosure member to the open position is very minute with only the forceof the spring 56 and the resiliency of the rear wall '70 of the bracket34 to be overcome. In like manner, the force required to close theclosure member is also quite minute since the force of spring 56 isdirected to close the closure member with only an additional forcerequired to permit the ends 58 and 60 to ride upwardly against the innersurface of back wall 76 forcing it outwardly and immediately upon theends 58 and 60 passing from contact with the inner surface of back wall70 the spring 56 snaps the cover into a positive sealing relationshipwith the annular ring 14.

Since there are relatively few parts and these are in a permanentlyassembled condition, the device as described of the two embodimentsillustrated is not subject to wear or mechanical breakdown. Furthermore,the simplicity of the construction is such that variations inmanufacturing tolerances will not affect its operation while the easewith which the cover can be moved from open to closed position or fromclosed into automatically locked open position insures that it can beused in ordinary household as well as commercial application withoutdifficulty. 7

Although I have described my invention with respect to certainprinciples and details in specific embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied inaccordance with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A weatherproof outlet comprising a base plate; an upstanding annularring integral with the surface of said base plate defining an openingtherethrough for receipt of an electrical outlet; a closure memberhaving a flat internal seating surface; a sealing member received withinsaid closure on said seating surface, said sealing member engaging saidannular ring when the closure member is in the closed position; abracket member secured to said base plate having upwardly extendingparallel bracket flanges; a pivot bar journalled in said bracketflanges; a hinge extension on said closure member having dependingflanges pivotally mounted on said pivot bar; a spring member having aleg secured to said bracket against lengthwise movement of the leg,coiled about the pivot bar and secured to the hinge extension, torsionalstress of said spring member retaining the closure member in the closedposition and abutments formed on the base plate adjacent the bracket injuxtaposition for frictional interference contact with the ends of saidhinge extension when the closure member is moved towards the openposition, tensile stress induced upon said leg of said spring membermaintaining physical contact between the ends of said hinge extensionand the abutments to retain the closure member in the open position.

2. A weatherproof outlet comprising a base plate, an annular ringdefining an opening in the base plate to be disposed in register with anelectrical outlet, a bifurcated bracket secured to the base plate havingapertures through each side thereof, a pivot pin of a diameterappreciably less than the diameter of the apertures in a plane verticalto the base plate and disposed within the apertures parallel to saidbase plate for rotational and reciprocal movement in said verticalplane, an abutment on said base plate in said vertical plane, a closuremember secured to said pivot pin movable in a path of interference withsaid abutment, and a coiled spring member about said pivot pin engagingsaid closure member and said bracket, torsional stress of the springurging rotation of the closure member to its closed position, andtensile stress of the spring urging said pin to hold said closure memberin said path of interference with said abutment.

3. A weatherproof outlet comprising a rectangular base plate elementhaving an upstanding annular ring formed in the surface thereof definingan opening for receipt of an electrical device, a closure membercarrying a sealing member therein seating in sealed relationship on saidannular ring when the closure member is in the closed position, abracket element having spaced apart upstanding legs having axiallyaligned apertures, a pivot bar reciprocably mounted in said apertures, ahinge extension on said closure member engaging the pivot bar permittingpivotal rotation of the closure member relative to the base plate, aspring member coiled about said pivot bar with a portion of said springmember hooked to said bracket element and another portion of the springmember engaging the hinge extension under deflection to urge the pivotbar towards said base plate element, an abutment member formedintegrally with one of the said elements in juxtaposition forinterference contact with the marginal edge of the hinge extension asthe closure moves to the open position, said pivot bar and abutmentmember moving relative to each other to pass said hinge extension andhold said closure member in the open position against the force of thespring member.

4. A weatherproof outlet comprising a base plate member, an opening inthe base plate member to be disposed in register with an electricoutlet, an interference element on the base plate member spaced fromsaid opening, an upwardly extending set of parallel bracket flanges onthe base plate member adjacent to said interference element, a closuremember for sealing said opening having a set of parallel bracketflanges, said sets of bracket flanges being disposed in side by siderelationship with respect to each other, one of said sets of bracketflanges having axially aligned apertures through the flanges thereof, apivot bar of a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of saidapertures carried by the other set of bracket flanges and disposedpivotally within the apertures for relative reciprocable movementbetween said sets in a radial direction with respect to saidinterference element, said closure member having an element movable in apath of interference contact with said interference element at one limitof said reciprocable movement during pivotal movement of the closuremember, a spring coiled about said pivot bar having one end secured toone of the members under tensional stress and the other end secured tothe other member under torsional stress, one of said stresses urgingsaid movable element radially into interference contact with saidinterference element and the other stress urging said closure memberrotationally to seal said opening.

5. A Weatherproof outlet comprising a base plate member, an opening inthe base plate member to be disposed in register with an electricoutlet, an upwardly extending set of parallel bracket flanges on thebase plate member spaced from said opening, a closure member movablebetween two positions in one of which the closure member seals saidopening and having a set of parallel bracket flanges, said sets ofbracket flanges being disposed in side by side overlapping relationship,one of said sets of bracket flanges having axially aligned aperturesthrough the flanges thereof, an interference element on one of saidmembers spaced from said opening, pivot pin means of a diameterappreciably less than the diameter of said apertures carried by theother set of bracket flanges and disposed within said apertures forrelative reciprocable movement between said sets in a radial directionwith respect to said interference element, one of said members having anelement movable in a path of interference contact With said interferenceelement upon pivotal movement of the closure member, a spring coiledabout said pivot pin means having one end secured to one of the membersunder tensional stress and the other end secured to the other of themembers under torsional stress, one of said stresses urging said movableelement into interference with said interference element and the otherstress urging said closure member to one of its said positions, anincreased torsional stress upon one end of the coiled spring increasingthe tensional stress exerted by the other end of the coiled spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,345 1/59Bellek 220-243 2,985,334 5/61 Slater 220-24.3 2,987,214 6/61 Radack22024.3 3,029,972 4/62 Robbins 220-35 JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

E. JAMES SAX, JOHN P. WILDMAN, Examiners.

2. A WEATHERPROOF OUTLET COMPRISING A BASE PLATE, AN ANNULAR RINGDEFINING AN OPENING IN THE BASE PLATE TO BE DISPOSED IN REGISTER WITH ANELECTRICAL OUTLET, A BIFURCATED BRACKET SECURED TO THE BASE PLATE HAVINGAPERTURES THROUGH EACH SIDE THEREOF, A PIVOT PIN OF A DIAMETERAPPRECIABLY LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE APERTURES IN A PLANE VERTICALTO THE BASE PLATE AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE APERTURES PARALLEL TO SAIDBASE PLATE FOR ROTATIONAL AND RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT IN SAID VERTICALPLANE, AN ABUTMENT ON SAID BASE PLATE IN SAID VERTICAL PLANE, A CLOSUREMEMBER SECURED TO